A CHARITY ball has raised £2,000 to help save the lives of newborn babies.

Runcorn logistics firm Freight First hosted the event at the Holiday Inn to celebrate their 15th anniversary.

The company in Aston Lane, Preston Brook has pledged to raise £15,000 this year for the babygrow appeal at The Countess of Chester Hospital which saved the lives of one of their employees.

Customer service manager Chris Bullock's wife, Stacey gave birth to premature twins, Jess and Joe in 2013 in the hospital’s neo-natal unit.

Simon Meredith, managing director, said: “The care they received was absolutely phenomenal and undoubtedly saved their lives.

“Jess, Joe, Chris, Stacey and his family will be forever grateful for what they did.

“This is our chance to give something back to the charity.”

The hospital is currently aiming to raise £3m to double the size of the existing baby unit.

Freight First has become one of the fastest growing haulage companies in the UK since it started in 2000.

It has contributed greatly to the north west economy by employing local professionals.

Mr Meredith added: “The company has grown rapidly over the past two years in particular.

“A lot of that is down to hiring excellent, local talent and nurturing them into transport experts.”